BOUNTIFUL—Thanksgiving is a holiday unequivocally associated with food. While other holidays may have food that is part of the celebration, there is no other quite like Thanksgiving for making food the focal point. Of course, it’s physically impossible to eat all day, so, what else is there to do on Turkey Day?

Some people watch the big parade on TV, others may even play some touch football, still, others will slip into a deep sleep following the meal, and wait for Black Friday. For hundreds in Davis County, however, there’s a surprisingly healthy tradition that has been gaining steam over the past two decades. 

Sarah Johnson with the South Davis Recreation Center has been with the organization for a few years now, and since she started, the number of people registering for races on Thanksgiving Day has grown from 700 to 900, to as of last year, 1,400. While not all of these show up each time, it’s an astounding number of people that are interested in doing something new, and healthy for Thanksgiving. 

It’s not just locals anymore, either says Johnson. “We see people from New York, Pennsylvania,” and other places around the country said Johnson, citing that, for many people, even after they’ve moved away from Davis County, it’s still an important family tradition. Which is the other surprising thing –for many, running a race on Thanksgiving is a family, or group tradition.

“It’s fun to see the different family groupings,” said Johnson, explaining that they have races for different ages and levels, making it possible for families to run together. With group rates, and sponsorships from around the community, it’s much more doable as well, “we’re not for for profit here,” said Johnson, saying that these races are only possible because of the “really good working relationship with the community.”

Though South Davis Rec offers plenty of opportunities to get out and run, like the triathlons and races held on other holidays, Johnson said that the Thanksgiving Day races are arguably the most popular for runners in the area. Even during the years with bad weather – Johnson shared the experience they had when it snowed hard, and “700 still showed up!” Despite the blizzard, she said, “It’s good memories for all of us.” 

Joining a race like those hosted on Thanksgiving can be intimidating, especially for first-timers, but Johnson says the South Davis Rec has that covered. Leading up to each race, there are plenty of clinics available to help train and familiarize newcomers, as well as keep the skills of running veterans sharp. So, whether it’s training for a first race, or a hundredth, South Davis Rec has residents covered. 

More information on the Thanksgiving Day Races, registration, prizes, and other races held throughout the year can be found at https://www.southdavisraces.com/.